Introduction

Crime and disorder can be tackled effectively by targeting resources to areas of need. These areas exist as hotspots, often driven by physical, socio-economic and activity factors. This toolkit provides guidance and information on identifying hotspots and targeting resources to focus areas.

The toolkit is designed for all levels within a crime and disorder reduction partnership, including,

• analysts seeking to identify and understand the drivers behind why crime and disorder is generated in concentrated areas

• managers who need to be better informed about the processes, requirements, drivers, and strategies that support the targeting of reduction resources to focus areas.

• Practitioners who need to implement and deliver initiatives.

The toolkit provides some technical solutions. These should encourage and support partnerships to raise their awareness of appropriate analytical methods and techniques for crime and disorder reduction strategies. The Toolkit encourages partnerships to draw applicable items as and when required to help them target and strategically develop their approach to reducing crime and disorder in focus areas.

The toolkit uses examples drawn from community safety partnerships across the United Kingdom. These examples and case studies provide details of the typical barriers that partnerships have overcome, demonstrate the benefits to focus area approaches, and help to identify the resources required for taking forward this type of approach.